Nicholas Hopton
Navigating Global Challenges with Diplomatic Expertise
- Distinguished Ambassadorial Service – Served as British Ambassador to Libya (2019–2021), Iran (2015–2018), Qatar (2013–2015), and Yemen (2012–2013), effectively advancing UK interests in complex regions.
- Strategic Leadership in National Security – Led the team that drafted the UK’s inaugural National Security Strategy in 2008, shaping the nation’s approach to global security.
- Director General of the Middle East Association – Currently leads efforts to foster business and governmental partnerships in the Middle East, providing strategic insights into the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
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Nicholas Hopton's 2025 biography
Nicholas Hopton – Veteran Diplomat and Middle East Specialist
Drawing upon his 35 years as a Diplomat and British Ambassador in the Middle East, Nicholas Hopton’s vast career has made him a highly sought after voice as a broadcaster and speaker, providing a uniquely insightful and strategic overview of the opportunities for business and governments as we navigate an unusually uncertain period.
Nicholas Hopton is the Director General of the Middle East Association and is the former British Ambassador to Libya (2019-21), Iran (2015-18), Qatar (2013-15), and Yemen (2012-13), also serving in Paris, Rome Morocco and Mauritania.
On home turf, Nicholas worked in the Foreign Office, Cabinet Office and No. 10, including: leading the team that drafted the UK’s first National Security Strategy (2008); senior UK official at the Perth Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (2011); and Private Secretary to four UK Government Ministers for Europe (1998-2000).
Throughout his career, Nicholas has focused on advancing UK interests and building partnerships, including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. He brought his leadership and diplomatic expertise to bear in addressing international challenges and promoting global security, stability and prosperity.
In his talks, Nicolas will dissect what the risks and positives are for businesses under the new Labour government, and how to utilise and mitigate them. He will illuminate the geo-political landscape in the context of the Middle East and its relationships, building on his work as a diplomat, giving the inside track as a practitioner and how the ever changing landscape might play out in 2025 and beyond.